The best workout routine for a mesomorph

Hi, I was wondering what the best type of workout routine for a mesomorph would be. I have a pretty small frame, but I find that whenever I start lifting weights, I gain muscle really fast and it begins to look less-than-feminine. My goal is to have a toned and well-shaped body, but not over-muscular (think kelly ripa just as an example). I have been doing higher reps, lower weights, as I believe lifting heavier and fewer weights would be more anabolic (am I right in thinking this? This is what I seem to have found through experience). I've been trying to do strength-building and muscle-lengthening exercises that involve a lot of dynamic movements and stretching exercises, because I don't want my muscles to "shorten" and give me a bulky look.

Is anybody here a true mesomorph? Do you have any input on how you train to get the lean, toned, shapely and non-bulky look? How often do you do cardio/weights/stretching? I would love to get any input on this!

~*~*Marie*~*~

"The road to success is dotted with many tempting parking places." -Author Unknown

Hi there
I seem to have a similar thing. I haven't done any training in ages and I still have a fair amount of muscle and when I do work out it grows really fast. I started a 2 month session at www.adventurebootcamp.co.za last week and the instructer commented on my biceps and recomended that I do more reps with smaller weights to increases my strengh and tone them. My husband wants them bigger but I don't know. I need to find out more about this whole thing, I'm totally new to it.

Also read this. Women do not have the testoterone to get "bulky" and even if so, it does not happen overnight as in waking up one day and "looking like Ronnie". Anyone who feels they are getting "too big" whether it be a guy or a girl can stop the process immediately by training less intensely and cutting back on protein and caloric intake.

There are also tables to be found online that give you the best strategy based on twitch fibre dominance. It determines your strategy by how many reps you can do @ 80%. Some can hammer out +20 for instance, while others might be able to do only 3. This table gives you advice on speed, load, and volume

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